Quality education on your doorstep is now a reality

MACHADODORP – More than 700 learners who used to walk long distances to five small, multi-grade schools now receive quality education on their doorstep at a state-of-the-art, full-service boarding school which became operational in January.
On Friday hundreds of learners, parents and teachers celebrated the official handing over of eMakhazeni Boarding School (EBS) in the presence of not only various MECs and stakeholders but also of the premier, Mr David Mabuza.
According to Ms Reginah Mhaule, MEC for education, Mpumalanga adopted a boarding-school strategy in 2010 in rural areas in order to close small, non-viable farm schools, to phase out multigrade schools, and to improve the quality of education.
EBS joins three other institutions already operational in the province namely Ezakheni and Izimbali boarding schools which are both in Mkhondo and Shongwe Boarding School in the Nkomazi Municipality.
EBS came to fruition following an injunction by Mabuza that all children from farm areas and those that were orphaned must be assisted by the provincial government and given a decent school environment to receive the quality education that was guaranteed by the country’s constitution.
Mhaule supported Mabuza, adding that boarding facilities like EBS played a major role in particular for those who lived below the breadline, to create an affordable facility and environment conducive in which to live and learn.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education gave approval for the construction of the boarding school in line with the pronouncement by Mabuza during his State of the Province address on February 24, 2012.
The department set aside a budget of R250 million for this school, eMakhazeni Local Municipality provided the site for the construc-tion, and the Independent Development Trusts (IDT) was appointed by the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to build it.
The completed structure is now a fully fledged school and comprises: 24 classrooms, integrated walkways, an administration block, 35 toilets, computer centre, library block, science laboratory, guardhouse and refuse area, kitchen, dining hall, water-, sewerage- and electrical bulk-infrastructure, fencing, paving, parking facilities, three sport facilities including toilets and change rooms, landscaping, ramps and rails, grades R and eight boys and girls’ sleeping units with a boarding house.
“This is government’s endeavour to ensure that learners from rural areas and those that are from poverty-stricken areas equally receive quality education.
“The department is encouraged that already each of the four districts have a fully fledged boarding facility to rid the education system of the small and multigrade schools.
“In this regard I request parents to appreciate this patriotic gesture and to support the education of their children,” Mhaule said.

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Also watch the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEwa5y0TpEU&feature=youtu.be